Every year, on the evening of March 19, the tradition of the “falò” (bonfires) comes alive in the historic center and countryside of Monopoli. The falò are fires lit on the day dedicated to Saint Joseph, protector of the poor and of craftsmen, especially carpenters. Countless piles of wood burn everywhere as a symbol of the arrival of spring and the beginning of the new harvest season.

The falò, an ancient expression of popular devotion, burns all old things, purifying and driving away disease, hunger, and the cold of winter to welcome Spring. It is a traditional celebration, and every year people gather around the fires to enjoy themselves by dancing, singing, eating roasted chickpeas and bread with tomatoes, drinking wine, and ending with a typical sweet called the “zeppola di San Giuseppe,” filled with cream and sour cherries.